Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is also popularly known as the "Temple City of India". Being the seat of Tribhubaneswar or 'Lord Lingaraj', Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town, which once boasted of more than 2000 temples. Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception to its fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
The new Bhubaneswar with its modern buildings and extensive infrastructure perfectly complements its historic surroundings. With facilities to cater to every type of visitor, Bhubaneswar makes an ideal tourist destination.

Places of Interest

Ancient Temples:
Ananta Vasudeva – Bharateswar Temple – Bharatimath – Bhaskareswar Temple – Brahma Temple – Brahmeswar Temple – Chandana Temple – Chitrakarini – Daiteswar Temple – Swarabasini Temple – Gosagareswar Temple – Kainchi Temple – Kedareswar Temple – Kotitirtheswar – Laxmaneswar Temple – Lingaraj Temple – Makarewswar Temple – Mukteswar temple – Mohini Temple.

Modern Temples:
Baya Baba Matha – Ram Mandir – Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir – ISKCON Temple.

Parks:
Biju Patanaik Park – Buddha Jayanti Park – Ekamra kanan / Cactus Garden – Forest Park – Gandhi Park – I. G. Park – IMFA Park – Kharavela Park – S. P. Mukherjee Park – Subas Bose Park.

Museums:
State Museum – Tribal Museum.

Other Landmark:
Kalinga Stadium – Info City – Fortune Tower – Science Park – BDA Nicco Park.

Excursion

Dhauli – Sisupalgarh – Hirapur – Atri – Nandankanan.

Cuttack

Cuttack, the former capital and one of the oldest cities of Orissa is the administrative headquarters of the district. The town is situated at the apex of the delta formed by the rivers Mahanadi in the North and Kathajodi in the South. It serves as a convenient base for touring the various places of interest in the district.

Places of Interest

Stone Revetment of Cuttack – Barabati Fort – Temple of Cuttack Chandi – Quadam-I-Rasool.

Excursion

Choudwar – Chhatia –Naraj – Chandikhol – Dhabaleswar – Niali-Madhava – Bhattarika – Ansupa – Kendrapara – Jajpur – Paradeep – Ratnagiri – Lalitgiri – Udaygiri.

Chilika

Queen of natural beauty, Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq. km is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter Chilika is a flutter with thousands of indigenous and migratory birds of many varieties from far and near - even from the distant Siberia. The fabulous beauty of Chilika which has inspired poets to sing its glory and which can be best enjoyed from Balugaon, Barkul, Rambha and Satpada must be seen to be believed. One can also have a glimpse of the lake from the moving trains and vehicles on the road near these places. The atmosphere is just serene and undisturbed amidst the blue expanse of water on one side and an evergreen range of hills on the other. Dotted with a host of islands with romantic names, a cruise in Chilika will be a life-long memory.

Places of Interest

Kalijai Island – Honeymoon Island – Breakfast Island – Bird Island – Nalabana (Island of Reeds) –
Parikud Island.

Excursion

Narayani – Nirmaljhara – Banpur.

Rourkela

Set in the lap of nature, Rourkela has come into prominence with the establishment of the first of the three public sector steel plants set up in India in 1955. Situated in the minerally rich belt of Orissa, Rourkela marked a new era in the Steel Industry of India being the only steel plant devoted primarily to the production of flat products and sheets. Rourkela serves as the most convenient base for visiting the places of interest in the district of Sundargarh.

Excursion

Vedavyas – Junagarh – Pitamahal – Ushakothi – Mandira Dam – Khandadhar – Darjeeng – Ghogar.

Baripada

An excellent base for touring the Mayurbhanj region and also the district headquarters, Baripada is an ideal place to pick up handloom products of Chandanpur and stone carving of Khiching. A must buy is the tusser fabric of Bangiriposi.

Excursion

Khiching.

Konark

The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. The poet Rabindranath Tagore said of Konark that 'here the language of stone surpasses the language of man', and it is true that the experience of Konark is impossible to translate into words.
The massive structure, now in ruins, sits in solitary splendour surrounded by drifting sand. Today it is located two kilometers from the sea, but originally the ocean came almost up to its base. Until fairly recent times, in fact, the temple was close enough to the shore to be used as a navigational point by European sailors, who referred to it as the 'Black Pagoda'.
Places of Interest

Kuruma – Chaurasi – Ramachandi – Astranga.

Jeypore

Nature has showered its bounty on the undivided Koraput district with untrammeled joy. This district abounds in meadows, forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys and darting springs. This land of abundance is home to Orissa's vast tribal population. A real paradise for the nature-lover, Koraput offers an additional benefit to the visitor of first hand meeting with its ancient civilization.
Jeypore is the commercial nerve centre of Koraput district and has all such facilities to serve as the convenient base for visiting the places of interest in and around.

Places of Interest

Bagra – Papadahandi – Nandpur – Sunabeda – Duduma – Gupteshwar – Hatipathar – Minna Jhola

Bhawanipatna

The headquarters of Kalahandi District, Bhawanipatna is a town of numerous temples dedicated to different deities of Hindu pantheon. Named after its presiding deity 'Bhawanishankar', it is the most convenient base for touring various places of interest in the district and the nearby district of Nawapara.

Places of Interest

Phurli Jharan – Junagarh – Karlapat – Belkhandi – Ambapani – Budhikomna – Yogimath – Patalganga

Balasore

Balasore, the headquarters of the district, was an important maritime town in medieval times through the river Budhabalanga. Some portions of the town were occupied by the French and the Dutch which were named as "Farasidinga" and "Dinamardinga". The ruins of the foreign possessions still exist. Balasore serves as the most convenient base for touring the various places of interest in the district. The Temple of Mahadev Baneswar is one of the main places of tourist interest in Balasore.

Places of Interest

Chandipur – Panchlingeswar – Chandaneswar – Balaramagadi – Chandbali – Aradi – Dhamra – Raibania.

Berhampur

Famous for its silks, Berhampur, the major commercial town of the district of Ganjam, is a convenient base point from where a tourist can plan his visit to various places of interest in the area.

Places of Interest
Gopalpur-on-sea – Aryapalli – Taptapani – Mahendragiri – Taratarini.

Bolangir
A WELL laid out town from the time of the Maharajas, Bolangir still possesses the charm and serenity of the old days fashion. It is one of the major commercial towns in the western part of Orissa.

Places Of Interest
Ranipur- Jharial - Harishankar - Patnagarh – Sonepur

PHULBANI
The Headquarters of the Kandhmal district which has a variety of attractions including a rich tribal culture and colourful flora & fauna. Phulbani is the most convenient base for touring the various places of interest in the area.

Places Of Interest
Balaskumpa – Padmatala - Puruna Katak – Charisambhu – Chakapad - Putudi - Dalringibadi
Belghar - Boudh

DHENKANAL
It is the gateway to one of the most ancient forest covers of Orissa which shelters the elephants, tigers and numerous species of birds and beasts. The broad plains of the river Bramhani were the dwelling place of early homo-sapiens who lived on the berries and wild fruits before the advent of rice on these heavily watered expanses. The surrounding Sal forests come ablaze with the changing seasons making this district headquarters town focal point of trips to beautiful interiors. Close by is the industrial town of Angul which has the smelter plant of one of the worlds largest producers of Aluminum - NALCO.

Places Of Interest
Joranda – Kapilas – Tikarpada – Saptasajya – Deulajhari

KEONJHAR
Keonjhar, the district headquarters of the district of Keonjhar offers varieties of attractions to the tourists. It is the most convenient base from where visitors can plan their visit to various places of interest in the area.

Places Of Interest
Sitabinji – Khandadhar - Sanghagara – Badghagara – Gonasika - Murga Mahadeva

SAMBALPUR
Sambalpur, the gateway to the bewitching western zone of Orissa abounding in lush green forests, colourful wild life, captivating waterfalls; rich tribal culture, folk songs and dances and a variety of monuments finds mention in the works of Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) as "Sambalaka". Associated with the celebrated name of its ruler Indrabhuti , the teacher-propounder of the Vajrayana Buddhism, Sambalpur has earned a place in the cultural history of India. Here, one can visit the temples of Samaleswari, Patneswari, Budha Raja, Brahmapura and the Gopaljee monastery.

Places Of Interest
Hirakud Dam – Ushakothi - Chiplima - Nrusimhanath – Huma – Vikramkhol – Pradhanpat

PURI
One of the four celebrated religious centers of India, Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction. According to tradition Puri was once a thickly wooded hill inhabited by the Sabaras (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribes of the Austric linguistic family). The sunny beach at Puri is one of the finest in the world. Watching the sunrise in a symphony of colours is a wonderful experience. It is one of the most popular sea-side resorts where visitors from any part of the globe can comfortably relax.

Places Of Interest
Balighai – Brahmagiri – Satyabadi – Baliharachandi – Raghurajpur - Satapara

SIMLPAL
Thick and green forests, extensive grassy lands and meadows, cloud kissing peaks, precipitous and sparkling waterfalls, meandering rivers, roaring tigers and trumpeting tuskers, fleeing deer and flying squirrels, talking myna and dancing peacocks et al make Similipal a dreamland of Nature in the wilderness and an irresistible destination.

Excursion
Khiching - Chandipur - Panchalingeswar - Remuna – Deokund.